NCAA Football 11 Walkthrough & Strategy Guide

You can't score if you don't hold the ball, and you can't score consistently if you make mistakes every five seconds. While it takes a little practice to understand your style, you should be racking up points in no time.

Basic Theory

When you're on offense, the basic question that poses you every single down is: run or pass?

Now, let's assume for a second that all your guys are equal in strength. The basic theory of which to choose is related to three questions: what down is it; how far is it to get a first down; and what's the score.

Which Down Is It?

Running plays are far better to choose in early downs, mostly because they are much safer. Because your QB is handing the ball DIRECTLY to your running backs, there's no chance for a turnover unless your runner's fingers are made of butter and he drops the ball every time. However, because you probably won't get more than 3 to 5 yards per run, you'll need to pass if the down count is getting too high.

How Far Is It to Get a First Down?

If you ever need more than 10 yards, you'll need to pass. Passing will often get you worlds more yardage than runs, although throwing too deep too early will cause problems. You'll not want to risk giving up an early lead.

What's the Score?

If you're leading, especially late in the game, don't bother with passing plays. After all, there's no reason to risk the lead to get a few extra points: your goal at that point is to eat up as much time as possible. If you're behind, you'll want to go deep, since that may be your only chance to get away with a win.

Here's the basic theory list, assuming the score difference is 7 or fewer points either way...

1st DownRun.

2nd and less than 7 yardsRun.

2nd and more than 10Pass.

3rd and less than 2Run.

3rd and more than 5Pass.

4th and less than 1If you're feeling confident and you're past the 50 yard line, try a run.

4th and anything elsePunt or Field Goal.

Notice that I didn't cover every single yardage situation. The reason is simple: your team's strengths and weaknesses, as well as your personal playing style, should dictate the list also. If you've got a fantastic running back, run more. If you have a good passer with good receivers, pass more. Check out our team rankings section for more details if you're just jumping into a game, but your best bet is to check your team's stats in detail.